Back in 2009 I was made aware of a link to an urban exploration website. For those that don't know, this is a pastime where people break in to old abandoned buildings and explore, taking pictures along the way. They call is urbex. (the original link to the urban exploration pictures are here).

Whilst looking at this site I found myself suddenly looking at some arcade machines, and well, you know me! The hunt was on.

I spent 8 months trying to contact the owners of the place I could see the games in. I phoned the council, I phoned the post office (yeah I really did!) in the town and phoned everywhere, each time getting another clue in the puzzle that would lead me to the owners of this place that had the games in.

I finally contacted the owners in January 2011 after going through the said local councils, local shops (you name it) and finally got in contact with a family member. This family member put me in contact with the owners and we started talking. Two things came out of that.

1. The arcade games are for sale2. I can go and see them

So in February 2011 myself and 2 others, Rav and P-man, drove for what seemed like forever until we reached our destination, and the destination was pretty magnificent. People, this was the most magnificent story that could ever be told.

It was a beached ship.

This ship is the Duke of Lancaster.

Before going further on our 'Belgium side' of this historical story, check more details about the background/preparation of this adventure on the UKvAc board

[click on picture to jump in the Oliver's part of the story]

You can find more details about the ship on the net, but let me gather the information here (sources : wiki/dukeoflancaster.net) :

HISTORY

The TSS Duke of Lancaster was a railway steamer passenger ship that operated in Europe from 1956 to 1979.

Built at Harland & Wolff, Belfast and completed in 1956, she was designed to operate as both a passenger ferry (primarily on the Heysham-Belfast route) and as a cruise ship. In this capacity, the Lancaster travelled to the Scottish islands and further afield to Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway and Spain.From the mid-1960s, passenger ships such as the Lancaster were gradually being superseded by car ferries.Rather than undertake the expensive option of renewing their entire fleet, British Railways instead began a part-programme of conversion. In order to maintain ferry services whilst these modifications took place, the Lancaster's duties as a cruise ship ceased. On 25 April 1970 the ship returned to service, having had her main deck rebuilt to accommodate vehicles via a door at her stern. The ship now provided space for 1,200 single-class passengers and 105 cars, with a total cabin accommodation for 400 passengers.

The ship (with her two sister ships "TSS Duke of Rothesay" and the "TSS Duke of Argyll") continued on the Heysham-Belfast route until the service was withdrawn on 5 April 1975. It was then briefly employed on the Fishguard-Rosslare crossing, before becoming the regular relief vessel on the Holyhead–Dún Laoghaire service until November 1978. The ship was then laid up at Barrow in Furness, Cumbria.

The Lancaster was sold to Liverpool based company Empirewise Ltd, who intended her to be used as a static leisure centre and market. She arrived at her new home at Llanerch-y-Mor, near Mostyn, on 10 August 1979

[click on picture to see the video]

The ship was brought into a permanent dock and the hull was sealed. The reason the ship was beached was to get around the rule of no shops or trading to be open on a Sunday. John Rowley in his brilliance had found a loop hole - ships were not bound by this law, and the law did not state where the ship must be - whether it be at sea, at dock, or indeed beached on land - and thus the "Fun Ship" was born.

Conversion for use as a 300-room hotel did not appear to go beyond the preliminary planning stage. Its use as "The Fun Ship" was relatively short-lived and it was subsequently closed to the public because access to the ship is via a bridge under the North Wales railway line, which is too low for emergency vehicles.

Over time, the vessel has become increasingly derelict. The ship was later used as a warehouse by its owners Solitaire Liverpool Ltd, a clothing company registered to the same address as Empirewise Ltd

Despite rumours that the ship would be scrapped, the company stated that they have no plans either to sell it or to restore it. Since then, 'left to rot'...

We now can confirm the ship will be scrapped very soon!

So me must act now and save all these games!

A "unsinkable" plan?

That UKVAC Bulk Buy opportunity came in ears of selected collectors in may 2011, although Oliver was working on the plan for longer.And what a plan! more than 100 machines (games, pinballs, kiddie games, fruit machines...)...coming right away for the golden age of video game!Making a such bulk buy a success was a terrible nightmare for Oliver... a real poker game!

...price negotiation... keeping that location a secret... trusting all the persons involved in the bulk buy... I won't give all the details here, but they were a lot of 'down' periods during these last months... even at certain points, that bulk buy was almost death! But thanks to the perseverance of Oliver, for most of us, we kept the hope. We wanted our ticket to history!

We were a little bit worried when we heard that the BBC television would broadcast a documentary about the boat, in December 2011. Perhaps it mentions the presence of games? And so reveal the precious secret? Fortunately not! That short documentary didn't focus on that But since I'm involved in that story, I had to see what is the content of the documentary, and so I ordered the dvd show!

Here's the interesting segment

And after months of hope..the issue has come through this Oliver's message

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 at 5:48pmOK EVERYONE, THE DATE HAS BEEN SET AND FINALIZED TODAY....SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4TH. THIS IS NOT THIS WEEKEND, BUT THE WEEKEND AFTER, PLEASE START BOOKING YOUR VANS!!!!

So the meeting point is now fixed to the 4th of February... 8:00am ... at Mostyn [North Wales], close to Liverpool, at approx 1000km from my house!Too bad, I can't have a day off at my job the day before! So it means that we will have to drive right after a day of work, all the evening/night long, without sleeping... and hope to be on time for the 'big boat party' It's gonna be rock'n'roll...

Friday, the 3rd of February / 5:00 pm

Because the boat is located in the middle of nowhere...

...a serious preparation is required! This time, my usual 'road trip' stuff won't be enough... and what a great opportunity to use back boots like this

I have not worn them since more than 20 years! This road trip gonna be historical in many ways I think OK, all I need is ready

The weather forecast here in Belgium is not too good...and I don't even dare checking the forecast in UK ...but we have no choice! We must drive to that ship at any cost! Temperatures are really low since few days : -12 °C during the night, -5 °C the day...

The final destination is the ship! Here's the travel to do

Remember, we are Friday the 3rd of February, 5:20PM and we must be over there at 8:00am tomorrow! Ok, no time to lose! Ready for departure...

(clock is not correct on my car, it's really 17:27 at the moment)

Fortunately, I won't travel alone during this adventure... Chrischris is also a lucky member of this 'Bulk buy'. He's in charge to rent the truck. I just will use my car to go to his place. From there, we'll use the van. So I set my Nav Car to 'ChrisChris' home...

While I'm on the road to the ChrisChris's home, I got a phone call from him. Remember, he has to pick up the van at the rent car company, located at 35 km from his place.He's stuck in the traffic jam because of the snow! The rent agency closes at 6:00pm. He called their office to ask them to wait a little bit over 6:00pm, because he's so close from their office, but unfortunately stuck. The guy over the phone says : NO... because he must leave as soon as possible, he is also worried about the snow Chris explains him how important having this truck is... but the guy doesn't really agree! Chris called him 4 times!!! every 10 minutes... imploring his help! Also by offering an extra €€€... but the guy has to quit the office on time

Damn it! What to do with no truck? We don't want to miss a such adventure! The B plan would be to go there anyway with my car, and using the Chris trailer... in that case we can bring back only two cabinets ...but a least, we will see the boat! Ok, that will be the B plan!

Chris calls me once again, and ask me If I could convince him. So I call the guy.... and ... with some kind of magic, the guy says : "OK men, I stay here... take your time... I wait for you...' There must be arcade Gods with us today YYYEEEESSSSS !!!The reason why the guy changed his mind : he had a concert planned tonight, but because of the snow that paralyzed all the country (a total 1600 km of traffic jam in Belgium!!!), he (and his wife) decided not to go there... so no more rush for him ...and the truck for us!

For information, the truck rental company is located at 35 km from Chrischris home... and he drove for two hours and half to go there!!!

Snow? 1600km of traffic jam? It's very quiet for now, in south Belgium

My trip to Chrischris should take less two hours, and I finally arrive after 3h30 min! Our timing was already very tight, we did not need 'any delay' in addition!

Ok, let's be positive! We have the truck...it's gonna be a great adventure...

ChrisChris will be the first to drive...

It's 9:19pm ...

...and we must be at Calais before 0:15am for 'Le shuttle'. In my road trip plan, I calculated a 'bonus' of 2-3 hours in case of delay, so we are still in schedule for now. Here's the rest of the trip to do ... before tomorrow morning!

We have now approx 2h30min to drive in order to reach the Eurotunnel. No problem during the first hour and half... but when arriving at Lille

Stuck in traffic!!!

TWO HOURS LATER!!!.... It's now clear we missed the scheduled train!!! We are now OUT OF SCHEDULE!!!Worst than that, I don't know what is the schedule for the next train. During daytime there is a train every 30 or 40 minutes I think, but in the night, maybe one train every two hours?!!! DAMN IT!!!

...and few hundred meters further... same chaos! I use that wasted time for taking some rest... coz I'll be the 'driver' in UK...

30 minutes later...

...it looks like the end of the world here! I know it's 2012 this year, right?! But...

"Listen, God of the Arcade...it's something like my 50th road trip so far...and I never had such problem? WTF today?""That day on the Galaxian Theater, what did I say to you? What were my words to you? Maybe it was your time to lose. You didn't think so."

[raging] "Lose? I don't lose! I win! I win! I'm a Road Triper'! That's my job, that's what I do!"

After spending more than 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES for few km driven, the situation starts to change now... better late than never!And you know what was the problem? The snow of course, yes... but the true reason is ... the trucks!!! The officers directed trucks on a single way, which paralyzes the entire highways for hours Our last hope now is to catch a train around 4h00am! But I'm not sure what are the train scheduled during the night to be honest

At least, we arrive at the Eurotunnel...

Let's put my credit card and see what will be our the departure time...

- wait 3 hours starting for now (it's about 4:00am) inside our truck!- arriving at the boat after the 'party'. Remember, the meeting is set at 8:00am UK time! And we may arrive close to 1:00PM !!!

Well, there's a last chance to get a train *before* the one suggested at 7:20am!

I know 'by experience' they wait the last moment before closing the train door. Practically, we are too late regarding boarding procedure, and that's the reason why the ticket machine propose us the next train... but the previous one may be still here, ready to go? Let's hurry! That may be our chance I've done this successfully few times... let's pray this will be the case this time too....we need to save this road trip

HELL YEAH!!!

The Arcade God is back! Let's use the crossing time to take some rest and some check up ... we are in a 'rush' mode since the beginning of the road trip

Inside the truck, very cold... see

Chrischris eats some chips...

...while I'm waiting for a Burger King that may never come...

...but at least I've my favorite and official drink

I'll need it, coz now I'll be the driver in UK

OK, arriving in UK ... out of schedule, but not too much... it's 3:47am UK time...

Thanks to some CD I got with me, it created a kind of 'time tunnel' that lead us in no time to the famous Dartford Crossing...

I didn't know the crossing is free during the night by the way...

6h51, the first 'refuel' stop...

Fuel prices are really expensive in UK

To be honest, we really start to be very tired at this point... we are awake since more than 24 hours... and, expect chips/chocolate, we didn't eat something serious

What's this?! Oh Noooooo

Let's cross the fingers we will avoid a new major delay because of the weather...

After an other 'time tunnel', here we are ... in daylight ... that will help us to stay awake

Because we are still 'out of schedule', we decide to put priority to the boat... we'll eat l8ter... except of course things like that

Driving without sleeping can twist your mind... I see a roller coaster now

Some objects look 'over sized'

Damn! That must be difficult to drive such truck... see the action of the wind

Strange trailer? What to do with that?

Huge accident on the other side of the road...

Close to Liverpool? Manchester? Never been so far in the Mordor ...

ONE HOUR TO GO... coool

Almost there...

Almost there ...

MOSTYN... 3 miles to go ... 3 minutes to go...

There is a contest between Chrischris and I... Who will see the ship first? ... who'll shoot it first?

Before to leave the place forever, let take more pictures of the brave Duke...

Laying on the ground, a poor power supply brick...

Most of the collectors are gone now...

...but we cannot leave the place with to do a last farewell to the Duke...

...and for a brief moment, I can say : "I OWN THE DUKE IN MY HAND"

A last farewell from Chris...

...to the ship that won't be exist in less than few months ...

...so we really watch it 'for real' for the really last time...

...bye bye, Duke ... Duke of Lancaster...

Of course, I do this a last time

Around the boat... pieces of junk...

...and soon nothing more then the Sea...

Good bye Duke...

This isn't the last dance...

It's 12:47 UK time when we leave the ship...

...and it's gonna be a new long trip to way back... see the distance to drive back to the Chris home... and It will be ever worst for me

Chris 'Red Bull' powered...

Again, we need fuel! Also time for few pancakes, made by Darth Nunette

Hey, did you notice? AdBLue... only £10.99

"This pancake looks like the Space Invaders moon"... guys... we really need some sleep at this level

Chat, chips, jokes, listening music... time flies...

I guess it's the Dartford Crossing here

No sleep 'til home...

...and we finally arrive at the EuroTunnel.

The initial plan was to take some rest, somewhere in an hotel, after unloading the games from the boat (remember, still no sleep for us so far since the beginning of the trip), but it's not too late after all, and we are not so far from home at this point.During a long road trip like, you have alternatively up & down times... we got the decision to continue to travel -without stopping for sleeping- during an 'up time' moment But when I reserved the Eurotunnel tickets, I thought we would be back Sunday morning, not now (Saturday evening)... so, once again, we are 'unattended' at the €uroTunnel... please pay a an other extra fee Do you want to continue YES/NO ...

OK, Willy ... Because you offered us a great story...and also because you don't really have the choice.... Money Talks!

This time... customs are really curious about our truck...Drugs somewhere?

We don't drink, we don't smoke, we don't do drugs. We play video games...

"Hey... Space Invaders! Nice!" said one of them

Once inside Le Shuttle, the usual inspection...

Ready to leave Le Shuttle... welcome in Europe!

Gimme fuel, gimme fire Gimme that which I desire...

Yes... once again ... fuel stop...

Arriving at the Chrischris town... I thought it would never happen ...

My initial was to unload one of my games from the truck, and bring it with me but I'm just too tired... it's late ... no sleep ... it's cold ...

See, it's 0:36am ... -10° C ... I just want to go home now... and sleep for two days

...so the games will stay on the truck this nigh, and ChrisChris will store them a couple of weeks... thanks for that, man!

And after a quick good bye, I leave my teammate for the last run of this journey! 2 hours to go before my bed... I see dead ships everywhere ... on the roads

And here I am ... Home Sweet Home

My wife was so worried about me that she waited my return... ... It's Sunday, 2:38am This road trip is officially ended!

At the end of this Journey :

Belgium > France > UK > France > Belgium1835 km driven on the road100km under water (EuroTunnel)Total elapsed 'road trip' time: 33h07min Total elapsed time without sleeping : 43h30minWilly 'one eyed' games we got back from the Fun Ship :

Shame on me, I'm even not there to help him Fortunately for him, someone else will help.

Here's the Take Off I got for parts only (similar than the Condor cabinet)

The ChrisChris 'Arcade way of life'... when arcade and apartment unite

Hope you still have free empty space for more cabinets?

Obviously yes

...and it's time for Chris to bring back the van to the rental company, but also to give a bottle of champagne (or wine) to the employee who was waiting for us last Friday evening after his business hour.

Cheers!

...and two weeks l8ter...

Wednesday, the 22nd of February, in the afternoon

Hi Chris! Please enter the Nuno's area

Let me guess what's inside the trailer?

Hell Yeah! He brings me my two games (and half) : Condor, StarHawk and all the internal parts of the 'Take Off'

Let's unload the Condor first...

Just need a good clean ... and the board (still at Rav's place for examination of the board).

Holy smoke, where to put that one... ... ok, one more cabinet inside the family house (WAF=WAF+1? )

Let's continue with the 2nd one : StarHawk...

A good old beast!

Massive, heavy, and not easy to move... welcome to the world of the first arcade games built!

That one will be too big for the house, after a terrible puzzling of few cabinets, it should be possible for my game room to 'host' that one too ... magical moment... StarHawk entering the game room

OK, while we are here, let's plug few games for Chris

Thanks to Chris for hosting these games until today, but also for bring them back directly at my place... you rock guy!

What an adventure... few months ago, I watched the games pictures waiting on a ghost boat, and now they are here!

Ok, next step will be the complete examination of the cabinets... I'll open a dedicated topic for each of them.

Crazy pictures & video are coming ...but due to the historical nature of this story, I prefer to write a nice story for you, instead ton of pictures with no comment at all So please be patient a little bit more ps : more stuff in the first 'slot'